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MANILA, Philippines – Six senators are seeking an investigation into the series of “unlawful killings” of citizens, including the recent police shooting of a mother and her son in Tarlac, with the ultimate goal of “breaking the culture of impunity,” especially among the forces of order.
Senate Resolution No. 600, presented by senators Sonny Angara, Joel Villanueva, Nancy Binay, Grace Poe, Sherwin Gatchalian and Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri, directs the corresponding commission in the upper house to carry out said investigation. .
The resolution establishes that in addition to breaking the culture of impunity, the investigation also seeks to identify gaps in the application of the law and achieve justice for the victims of unlawful homicides.
Among the cases cited in the resolution are the deaths of Sonya Gregorio and her son Frank Anthony. The two were shot dead by Police Sergeant Major Jonel Nuezca after a heated argument in Tarlac.
According to the resolution, at least 15 doctors, lawyers, journalists and other members of the community were “illegally murdered” only from July to December of this year.
The senators also cited several cases of doctors who were murdered such as Dr. Dreyfuss Perlas in March 2017, Dr. Shahid Sinolinding in April 2017, and Dr. George Repique in July 2017.
“The entire ratio of physicians per population in the regions where these murdered physicians were murdered is very low, and is well below the ideal ratio of 10 physicians per 10,000 inhabitants,” the senators said in the resolution.
“[These] statistics show that the death of a single doctor in the Philippines would drastically affect the quantity and quality of medical service that could be provided to Filipino citizens, ”they added.
Apart from doctors, senators said lawyers, journalists and activists have also been killed in the past.
Some of the incidents cited in the resolution include activists Randy Echanis and Zara Alvarez, who were killed in August this year; attorneys Eric Jay Magcamit, Joey Luis Wee, Baby Maria Concepcio Landero-Ole; and journalists Ronnie Villamor and Virgilio Maganes.
“The series of homicides in the last six months of at least fifteen people from various professions, including lawyers and journalists, and other members of the community, exacerbated by the fact that justice remains elusive for the victims and their families, highlights the We need to launch an investigation, in support of the legislation, to identify gaps in the application of the law, ”the senators said. [ac]
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